| Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 78 | 80 | 58 | 216 |
It's an open secret that sports are just part of the Olympic Games experience. Now for the flip side: where's the party? The place to be during the 2010 Winter Games - when not actually cheering at the finish line - will be at one of the celebration sites hosted by the City of Vancouver, the City of Richmond and the Resort Municipality of Whistler.
The sites, which are set to open in February 2010, will each offer a roster of family-friendly events, including big-screen broadcasts of the competitions and medal ceremonies, live music, and special guest appearances.
Join the party downtown
Vancouver's two LiveCity sites will be at West Georgia and Beatty streets near BC Place Stadium, and a few blocks away at Yaletown's David Lam Park, with a pedestrian route linking the two.
The Georgia Street site will stay open through the Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Winter Games and live on as a cultural legacy for the city. Vancouver's Robson Square will also draw crowds with athletic demonstrations, family events, outdoor ice skating and more.
Richmond's artistic attractions
Skiers Julia Mancuso, Resi Stiegler and Steve Nyman say Whistler is a monster mountain with 'party central' for a base.
From Vancouver's bar districts to Richmond's art scene, the host city is packed with great nightlife.
The party continues at the O Zone in Richmond, where visitors can take a spin at the Ice Zone (an ice rink boasting a high-tech lighting system), view interactive public art, and catch multicultural acts at the Main Stage, featuring a host of international headliners and local talents.
Sure to be a second home for speed skating nations, visitors can also view the Ice Gate, an ice art installation created by renowned west coast artist Gordon Halloran, and visit Holland House, an entertainment and hospitality venue expected to draw 6,000 visitors daily.
And here's something else to celebrate: the new Canada Line, part of Vancouver's SkyTrain rapid transit system, can whisk fans between the Richmond and Vancouver celebration sites in minutes.
Medal ceremonies at Whistler's base
In Whistler, six celebration sites each have a theme: from family fun at Town Plaza and live music at Village Square, to fringe theatre at Village Common and circus arts, dance, and Aboriginal performances at Mountain Square.
The main site, Whistler Medals Plaza, will host Medal Ceremonies, live competition broadcasts and the Paralympic Closing Ceremonies. (Tickets will be issued for crowd control at Whistler Medals Plaza. Information at vancouver2010.com).
Whistler will remain open for public skiing throughout the 2010 Winter Games, so skiers and boarders can catch shows and updates at Skiers' Plaza as they hop on and off the gondolas.
To learn more about where celebrations will take place, go to hellobc.com
Only the U.S. curlers have their tickets to Vancouver. Trials, the World Cup seasons, and other factors will influence the remaining decisions. The who, when, and how of determining the 2010 U.S. Olympic team.
With multiple World Cup and Olympic victories under their belts, these athletes have the potential to reach the medal podium in Vancouver.
